Line slack adjuster



Oct. 24, 1950 E. v. DAVIS 2,527,402

LINE SLACK ADJUSTER Filed .Nov. 7, 194? Inventor Edward M Davis Patented Oct. 24, 1950 V LINE sLAcK ADJUSTER Edward Davis, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 7, 1947, Serial No. 784,670

V 1 j v This invention relates to new and useful improvements in line slack adjusters and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a device particularly applicabl for tightening the lines supporting tennis nets and the like.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a line tightener including a line engaging member slidably mounted on said uprights and embodying novel and iniproved means for selectively adjusting said member relative to the uprights for reducing the slack in the line.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a line adjuster that is quickly and readily applied to or removed from one or both uprights between which a line is extended.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a line slack adjuster that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a pair of uprights supporting a tennis net structure, and showing the present invention applied thereon for use, and with parts of the net broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 22 of Figure l, and with parts of the present invention broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and with parts broken away and shown in section; and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line,

4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, Wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numerals I and [2 represent a pair of spaced parallel uprights or line supporting posts, which are partially embedded in the ground surface or which may be embedded in a concrete surface forming a tennis court or the like.

Removably secured to one side of one of the posts, for example 16, is an upper hook member 2 Claims. (Cl. 25637) l4 and a lower hook member I 6, that respectively engage eyes l8 at one terminal of an upper line 26 and a lower line 22, which are. slidably mounted" in sleeves 24 and 26 at the longitudinal marginal edges of a tennis net 28. The lower line 22 is adjustably connected to a lower hook member 30 carried by post [2.

A transverse substantially rectangular slot 32 is provided adjacent the upper terminal of post I2, and communicates with the bore 34 extending through said post. Slidably mounted in the slot 32, is an elongated substantially rectangular arm 36 provided with a screw-threaded rod 38, rigidly secured to one end, that slidably engages the bore 34. Receivably engaging the rod 38 and bearing against one side of the post I2, is a preferably circular nut 40 integrally formed at one terminal of a crank handle 42.

Integrally formed with one terminal of arm 36, is a substantially rectangular block 44 having a line engaging bore 46 through which the upper line 20 is slidably mounted. A set screw or the like 48 adjustably mounted in the block 44 communicates with bore 46, for selectively bearing against the line 20, to retain the same in position to the block 44.

In practical use of the device, the line 20 is first pulled through the bore 46 and set screw 48 tightened. Then by rotating the crank handle 42 in one direction, the arm 36 is selectively adjusted in slot 32, to reduce and remove the slack present in line 20. Should it be desirable to remove the net 28, the line 22 is disengaged with hooks l6 and 30, and the line 26 is disengaged with hook I 4 and the block 44.

Obviously, although depicted in the drawings, the present invention is particularly applicable for tightening lines supporting tennis nets. It should be noted, that the same could likewise be used for tightening clotheslines, badminton supporting lines, guy lines, and other lines whereby it may become necessary to remove or reduce the slack present in the same.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein a described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A line tightener comprising a pair of uprights, a line removably carried by one of said uprights, a horizontal slot provided in the other upright, a member slidably and non-rotatably mounted in said slot, a screw-threaded rod integrally formed with said member projecting from said slot, means receivably engaging said rod for selective adjustment of said member relative to said slot, a block integrally formed with and projecting laterally from said member, a bore provided in said block and disposed longitudinally of said member for slidably engaging said line, and a set screw adjustably carried by said block communicating with said bore for selectively adjusting said line relative to said block.

2. A line tightener comprising an elongated multisided member, a threaded rod integrally formed-with one end of said member, and disposed coaxially of said member, a block integrally formed with andproj ecting laterally from the other end of said member, said block having an elongated bore paralleling said member and said rod, a set screw threaded to said block and intersecting said bore for retaining a line in said bore, and a crank handl threaded on said rod.

EDWARD V. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 86,306 Hulbert Jan. 26, 1869 529,374 Fitzgerald Nov. 20, 1894 582,464 Dusenbury May 11, 1897 591,495 Probasco Oct. 12, 1897 607,410 Flanagan et al July 12, 1898 805,764 Wheelock et a1 Nov. 28, 1905 1,138,127 Loftus May 4, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,099 Great Britain A. D. Dec. 28, 1915 

